The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is warning livestock producers and consumers to be cautious when purchasing cattle through social media after reports of fraudulent online livestock listings.

According to a news release from the agency, recent scams have involved fake profiles posing as legitimate cattle operations and advertising heifers for sale. In some cases, buyers have traveled to pick up cattle they purchased online only to learn the operation had no knowledge of the transaction.

The scams have crossed state lines, prompting the department to urge prospective buyers to take additional steps to verify livestock sellers and transactions.

“Producers and buyers must remain diligent, verify who they are doing business with and take the necessary steps to ensure transactions are legitimate before purchasing,” said Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate in the release. “Protecting our livestock producers and buyers is critical to keeping the integrity of our beef industry strong and resilient.”

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries recommends that buyers conduct thorough due diligence before purchasing livestock online. That includes verifying contact information, requesting references and confirming that the operation is legitimate. Buyers should also use caution when handling financial transactions.

The department also is warning buyers about artificially generated cattle images that can look realistic but may not depict the actual livestock being offered for sale.

Potential warning signs include:

• Unnatural details on an animal, such as misshapen bodies, missing tails, uneven legs, distorted faces or irregular ear and nostril shapes
• Inconsistent backgrounds in which fencing, grass or barns appear warped, repeated or otherwise unrealistic
• An overly “perfect” appearance that looks too polished to be real

• Blurry or uneven edges around an animal, particularly where it meets the background
• Duplicate or reused images of the same animal appearing in multiple locations
• Missing context photos, including a lack of images showing the full herd, facilities or handling areas
• No identifying marks, such as brands, ear tags or distinctive coloring, that would normally help distinguish real cattle

The department is encouraging other state departments of agriculture, farm bureaus, cattlemen’s associations and other agricultural stakeholders to spread awareness of livestock scams and help protect producers throughout the agricultural industry.

Anyone who suspects livestock fraud is encouraged to report it to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Rural Crimes Unit at (334) 288-8328 or the Alabama Securities Commission at (334) 242-2984.